Splendora ISD board adopts pay raise plan

Newest teachers will receive above state's mandate

First-year teachers in the Splendora Independent School District will receive $500 above the state mandated $2,000 in pay under the plan approved by the board this past week.

The pay plan includes changes in the district's benefit package also.

Under the new scale, all district employees will receive some type of pay increase, plus a health supplement of $500.

Teachers with two, three and more than 19 years experience will not receive a local increase while teachers with no experience will receive $500 more than last year's beginning teachers. Teachers with one year of experience will receive a local increase of $200 per year. All other teachers will receive a local increase of $650 this year.

Under the plan, a beginning teacher will get $37,500 while a teacher with 19 years of experience or more will receive $48,600 this year.

The pay increases for employees other than teaching professionals will vary.

Board president David Duke said the new pay scale allows Splendora to maintain a competitive edge for recruiting and retaining quality employees.

The salary increases will add a bit more than $1 million to the district's 2006-07 budget, but additional state funding of $668,000 is expected to help offset the cost.

Trustees also approved changes to employee benefit packages, including a $20,000 life insurance policy for full-time employees working 30 hours or more per week.

The new employee benefit which is being offered through MetLife will cost the district some $14,887.50 this year.

"I think this is just another way to let our employees know we are doing everything we can for them," said McKee.

Insurance options

Employees who receive this benefit also will be able to purchase additional coverage for themselves and their dependents. Also, if employees are enrolled in the plan but leave the district, they may pay the premiums and keep the policy in effect for themselves.

In other business, trustees approved the student code of conduct for the fall. This year's document contains only a few minor changes, primarily in dates and the area of the district's dress code, said interim superintendent Billy Bowman.

The code adds a rule regarding students wearing pants and blue jeans with holes that allow skin or undergarments to be seen. Ripped or torn garments and pants that show skin or undergarments are forbidden.

Students at the high school level have received individual letters on this rule, but middle school students had not.